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How to use the GBS

The GBS are a set of easy to use product specifications for public procurers. They have 2 levels:

mandatory

best practice

The GBS are owned by Defra with individual standards developed with input from across government, industry and wider stakeholders. They are extensively reviewed with market research and analysis to establish crtieria that take long term cost effectiveness and market capacity into account.

Mandatory standards: for central government procurement

All central government departments and their related organisations must ensure that they meet the GBS when buying goods and services for those product groups covered. The mandatory standards are encouraged for the wider public sector to specify in tenders.

Best practice: voluntary standards for any organisation

Best practice standards have more or stricter criteria. They’re for any organisation concerned about sustainable procurement to follow or to specify in tenders.